Inquiry about language

[dwnielsen]

Hello, Ms Edgerton

Recently I picked up The Hidden Stars - a well-written book. I'm wondering about the constructed languages used in your novels - do any have a well-defined extended lexicon and grammar, or are they isolated examples? Thank you for your reply.

 

[dwnielsen]

(BTW, the question above is also for anyone who might happen to know the answer for certain.)

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

First of all, thank you for your kind words about the book. I am glad you enjoyed it.

There is a grammar and several hundred words.

Which doesn't save me from having to invent new words when I find there is something in a spell that I want to say and hadn't anticipated. When that happens, I try to find a related word already included in the vocabulary and use a variation of that. Otherwise, I usually mangle a word out of one of the Welsh or Irish dictionaries I keep on my shelf.

There are far, far more words in the language than I will ever be able to use in the story. However, in the second book, A Dark Sacrifice, there is a glossary that defines the different kinds of magic, and gives the meanings of all the names that are based on Niadhélen, as well as units of time.

Also, there is much more in this thread http://www.sffchronicles.co.uk/forum/42316-maps-and-some-other-things-you-wont-see.html which contains many things I originally put into the glossary but my editor removed. This includes translations of all the spells, and also two maps.

 

[dwnielsen]

Thanks kindly for the helpful reply, esp. considering that you've probably been asked the original question many times over the years. I'm glad to receive as well the link to extra information related to the Rune of Unmaking series. Just out of curiosity, are you familiar with the Amman Iar language of David Bell (who died relatively recently)? I do not know much about it myself, but thought it possible you might have an interest. Best wishes to you!

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Just out of curiosity, are you familiar with the Amman Iar language of David Bell (who died relatively recently)?

No, I hadn't heard of it before. I've just been trying to find some information about it, via Google, but while there are many references to it, there is nothing that explains much about it, and it looks like somebody took down his website after he died. What I did read about it sounds interesting, but it's frustrating not to be able to find out more.

 

[dwnielsen]

Sorry, I just found the (resurrected) link:
graywizard [dot] conlang [dot] org
(don't yet have permission to post proper links on the board)
But I don't know much about it otherwise.